A Review on the Development of Tidal Energy in China

Abstract

The global economic and social developments depend largely on fossil fuels nowadays. To cope with energy crisis and environment problems caused by consumption of fossil fuels, the renewable energy exploitation is an alternative path. As one kind of renewable ocean energy which can be applied into production, tidal energy is mainly utilized in electricity generation. China has abundant tidal energy resource, which mainly distribute in the southeast coastal areas where power supply is insufficient. China's tidal power generation started in 1958, and some experience and technologies have been accumulated from the long-time history of tidal power station construction and operation. At present, China’s tidal energy’s development and utilization are still in low level, and remain plagued by several challenges, such as high cost, and insufficiency of preferential policies and regulations. While, China's tidal power generation must be very promising in the foreseeable future, with a great deal of attention paid to the utilization of renewable energy and the perception of sustainable development.